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Nurse Staffing Standards for Hospital Patient Safety and Quality Care Act of 2019

USA116th CongressS-1357| Senate 
| Updated: 5/8/2019
Sherrod Brown

Sherrod Brown

Democratic Senator

Ohio

Cosponsors (6)
Edward J. Markey (Democratic)Elizabeth Warren (Democratic)Kamala D. Harris (Democratic)Chris Van Hollen (Democratic)Bernard Sanders (Independent)Tammy Baldwin (Democratic)

Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee

  • Introduced
  • In Committee
  • On Floor
  • Passed Chamber
  • Enacted
Nurse Staffing Standards for Patient Safety and Quality Care Act of 2019 This bill requires hospitals to implement and submit to the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) a staffing plan that complies with specified minimum nurse-to-patient ratios by unit. Hospitals must post a notice regarding nurse-to-patient ratios in each unit and maintain records of actual ratios for each shift in each unit. The bill also requires hospitals to follow certain procedures regarding how ratios are determined and other staff are prohibited from performing nurse functions unless specifically authorized within a state's scope of practice rules, among other requirements. HHS must adjust Medicare payments to hospitals to cover additional costs attributable to compliance with these ratios. Nurses may object to, or refuse to participate in, an assignment if it would violate minimum ratios or if they are not prepared by education or experience to fulfill the assignment without compromising the safety of a patient or jeopardizing their nurse's license. Hospitals may not (1) take adverse actions against a nurse based on the nurse's reasonable refusal to accept an assignment; or (2) discriminate against individuals for good faith complaints relating to the care, services, or conditions of the hospital or related facilities. HHS may impose civil monetary penalties on hospitals violating the ratio requirements and must publish the names of such hospitals. The bill provides stipends to the nurse workforce loan repayment and scholarship program and expands the nurse retention grant program to include nurse preceptorship and mentorship projects.
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Timeline
May 8, 2019
Introduced in Senate
May 8, 2019
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
May 9, 2019

Latest Companion Bill Action

HR 116-2581
Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.
  • May 8, 2019
    Introduced in Senate


  • May 8, 2019
    Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.


  • May 9, 2019

    Latest Companion Bill Action

    HR 116-2581
    Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.

Health

Related Bills

  • HR 116-2581: Nurse Staffing Standards for Hospital Patient Safety and Quality Care Act of 2019
Administrative law and regulatory proceduresCivil actions and liabilityDepartment of Health and Human ServicesEmployment discrimination and employee rightsGovernment employee pay, benefits, personnel managementGovernment information and archivesGovernment studies and investigationsHealth care qualityHealth facilities and institutionsHealth information and medical recordsHealth personnelHealth programs administration and fundingHealth technology, devices, suppliesHospital careIndian social and development programsLabor-management relationsMedicaidMedical educationMedicareMilitary medicineMinority healthNursingStudent aid and college costsVeterans' medical care

Nurse Staffing Standards for Hospital Patient Safety and Quality Care Act of 2019

USA116th CongressS-1357| Senate 
| Updated: 5/8/2019
Nurse Staffing Standards for Patient Safety and Quality Care Act of 2019 This bill requires hospitals to implement and submit to the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) a staffing plan that complies with specified minimum nurse-to-patient ratios by unit. Hospitals must post a notice regarding nurse-to-patient ratios in each unit and maintain records of actual ratios for each shift in each unit. The bill also requires hospitals to follow certain procedures regarding how ratios are determined and other staff are prohibited from performing nurse functions unless specifically authorized within a state's scope of practice rules, among other requirements. HHS must adjust Medicare payments to hospitals to cover additional costs attributable to compliance with these ratios. Nurses may object to, or refuse to participate in, an assignment if it would violate minimum ratios or if they are not prepared by education or experience to fulfill the assignment without compromising the safety of a patient or jeopardizing their nurse's license. Hospitals may not (1) take adverse actions against a nurse based on the nurse's reasonable refusal to accept an assignment; or (2) discriminate against individuals for good faith complaints relating to the care, services, or conditions of the hospital or related facilities. HHS may impose civil monetary penalties on hospitals violating the ratio requirements and must publish the names of such hospitals. The bill provides stipends to the nurse workforce loan repayment and scholarship program and expands the nurse retention grant program to include nurse preceptorship and mentorship projects.
View Full Text

Suggested Questions

Get AI-generated questions to help you understand this bill better

Timeline
May 8, 2019
Introduced in Senate
May 8, 2019
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
May 9, 2019

Latest Companion Bill Action

HR 116-2581
Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.
  • May 8, 2019
    Introduced in Senate


  • May 8, 2019
    Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.


  • May 9, 2019

    Latest Companion Bill Action

    HR 116-2581
    Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.
Sherrod Brown

Sherrod Brown

Democratic Senator

Ohio

Cosponsors (6)
Edward J. Markey (Democratic)Elizabeth Warren (Democratic)Kamala D. Harris (Democratic)Chris Van Hollen (Democratic)Bernard Sanders (Independent)Tammy Baldwin (Democratic)

Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee

Health

Related Bills

  • HR 116-2581: Nurse Staffing Standards for Hospital Patient Safety and Quality Care Act of 2019
  • Introduced
  • In Committee
  • On Floor
  • Passed Chamber
  • Enacted
Administrative law and regulatory proceduresCivil actions and liabilityDepartment of Health and Human ServicesEmployment discrimination and employee rightsGovernment employee pay, benefits, personnel managementGovernment information and archivesGovernment studies and investigationsHealth care qualityHealth facilities and institutionsHealth information and medical recordsHealth personnelHealth programs administration and fundingHealth technology, devices, suppliesHospital careIndian social and development programsLabor-management relationsMedicaidMedical educationMedicareMilitary medicineMinority healthNursingStudent aid and college costsVeterans' medical care